LIFE OF GAUTAM BUDDHA

Siddharth Gautam was born into a royal family of Sakya clan in Lumbini. (563 BC)
At the age of 29, he left home and went on path of asceticism.
After 49 consecutive days, he attained enlightenment under pepal tree at Bodhgaya, Bihar.
He gave his first sermon at Saranath village, near Banaras-UP. This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pavartana.
He died at the age of 80, in Kushinagar-UP (483 BC). This event is known as Mahaparinirvana.

BUDDHISIM

'Madhyam Marg' is to be followed.
Everyone is responsible for their own happiness.
4-nobel truths

Dukkha - Suffering
Samudya - Cause
Nirodh - it can be extinguished.
Astanga Marg - it can be achieved by 8-fold path.

Eight-Fold Path

Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Mindfulness
Right Effort
Right Concentration

No Supreme God in Buddhism.
Ultimate goal: attainment of Nirvana and can be attained in this life.
Code of conduct: Five precepts and refrain from them.

Violence
Stealing
Sexual misconduct
Lying
Taking intoxicant drink

Major Buddhist Text

The Buddha's teaching was Oral & the Sangha memorized his teachings. The teachings were rehearsed and authenticated at first council at Rajgriha in 483 BC and divided into 3-Pitakas.

Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of conduct & discipline
Sutta Pitaka: Main teachings or Dhamma of Buddha. It is divided into 5 Nikaya

Digha Nikaya
Majjihima Nikaya
Samyutta Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya
Khuddaka Nikaya

Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical analytics of Buddha's teachings & Scholar activity of monks.

His teachings were written down in 25 BC in Pali language

Other important Buddhist text:

Divyabandana
Dipavamsa
Mahavamsa
Millind Panha

Concept of Ahmisa is the main theme of Buddhism.

BUDDHIST COUNCIL

1st Buddhist Council - Rajgriha (483 BC)

After mahaparinirvana of Buddha, Ajatasatru (Haryanaka dynasty) arranged 1st Buddhist council in Satpani cave of Rajgriha. It was presided by Mahakasyapa.
This council was for preserving Buddha's teaching and composed 3 pitakas.

2nd Buddhist Council - Vaishali (383 BC)

Kalasoka/Kakavarin arranged and presided by Sabakami.

3rd Buddhist Council - Pataliputra (250 BC)

It was arranged by Ashoka and presided by Moggaliputa Tissa.

4th Council - Kundalvana-Kashmir (72 AD)

King Kanishka of Kushan Empire arranged this and presided by Asvaghosha. Buddhisim was divided into Mahayana & Hinayana.

Mahayana School

Mahayana means "Great Vehicle".
Idol worship of Buddha.
Originated in Kashmir.

Hinayana School

Hinayana means "Lesser Vehicle".
It believes in original teachings of Buddha and doctrine of elders.
It doesn't believe in idol worship and tries to attain individual salvation.
Theravada is a Hinayana sect.
Theravada is most closer to original teachings of Buddha. It developed in Sri Lanka.

Vajrayana

It means vehicle of thunderbolt. Also known as Tantric Buddhisim.

This was developed in India around 900 C.E.

It is grounded in various rituals and esoteric elements.

Zen

It was developed in China during Tang dynasty & associated with Mahayana Buddhisim.

It spread to Japan in 7th century AD.

Meditation is the most powerful subject in Buddhism.

SPREAD OF BUDDHISIM

Bhikhuka (monks) & Upasaka (worshipers).

The monks were organised into Sangha with purpose of spreading teaching of Buddha.

During Ashoka, Buddhisim get flourished over Indian subcontinent.

Buddhist University in India

Buddhist Universities	Locations	Founders
Nalanda	Bihar	Kumaragupta I (Gupta ruler)
Vikramshila	Bihar	Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Somapura	West Bengal	Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Jagaddala	West Bengal	Ramapala (Pala ruler)
Odantapuri	Bihar	Gopala (Pala ruler)
Valabhi	Gujarat	Bhattarka (Maitrak ruler)

Buddhist Sites in India

Sarnath: First sermon of Budhha site. Dhameka Stupa & Ashoka Pillar exist here,
Bodh Gaya: Bodha attained enlightment here.
Kushinagar: Mahaparinirvan of Budhha site.
Sanchi Stupa: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ashoka build this stupa in 3rd centrury BC.
Saravasti: Jetavana monastery, Angulimala's stupa present here.
Ajanta & Ellora Caves: UNESCO World Heritage site, Rock-cut arcitecture of Buddhism Present here.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q1. With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: (UPSC CSE 2022)

Historical person Known as

Aryadeva Jaina scholar
Dignaga Buddhist scholar
Nathamuni Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

(a) None of the pairs

(b) Only one pair

(d) All three pairs

Aryadeva: He was Mahayana Buddhist monk, a discipile of Nagarjuna & Madhyamaka Philosopher. Āryadeva's writings are important sources of Madhyamaka in East Asian Buddhism. His Chauthsataka (Four Hundred Verses) was influential on Madhyamaka in India and China. Āryadeva is also known as Kanadeva, recognized as the 15th patriarch in Chan Buddhism.
Dignaga: He borned 480 BC during Pallav kingdom and dies in Kalinga during Gupta period. Dignāga's work laid the groundwork for the development of deductive logic in India and created the first system of Buddhist Logic and Epistemology (Pramana)
Nathamuni: Nathamuni, also known as Sri Ranganathamuni, (823 CE – 951 CE), was a Vaishnava theologian who collected and compiled the Nallariya Divya Pravadhanam Considered the first of the Sri Vaishnaba Acharyas. Nathamuni is also the author of the Yogarahasya,^[4] and the Nyayatattva.

Q2. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world? (UPSC CSE 2018)

(a) Avalokiteshvara

(b) Lokesvara

(d) Padmapani

Avalokiteshvara: A commasinote boddhisattva in Buddhism who is associated with the protection of the world.
Lokesvara: Lord of the world i.e. Buddha
Maitreya: Future Buddha, yet to come to save the world.
Padmapani: Who emboddies Buddhist compassion and known as "Lotus-bearer".

Q3.Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? (UPSC CSE 2015)

Avant
Gandhar
Kosal
Magadha

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

INDIAN HISTORY

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CHAPTER 5 - BUDDHISIM IN INDIA